Life is so busy, so full of distractions, with so many items on our to-do lists that our lives sometimes get out of focus. We are adrift and many times we don’t even know it because we’re always on the move…somewhere. Even if that destination isn’t really where we want to go.
What’s missing, in many cases, is a feeling of purpose. If that resonates with you, check out these tips on how to discover your life purpose – and how to lead a purpose-driven life.
Finding your life’s purpose
- What makes you feel alive? Close your eyes in a quiet location and ask yourself that question. What gives you energy? What gets your blood moving, brightens your day?
- What accomplishments are you proudest of? Is it raising a family? Having a successful business? Rock climbing? Mentoring others?
- What would you like people to say about you during your eulogy? Kind, generous, helpful, funny, smart, loving, frugal, hard-working, bold, a risk-taker? Make your list as long as you can and then ask yourself: Am I that person today? If not, what do I need to change?
- Who do you admire most and why? Is it Oprah Winfrey, for her amazing rags-to-riches story? Is it Stephen Hawking, the theoretical physicist who has achieved greatness despite his debilitating Lou Gehrig’s disease? Maybe it’s Thomas Jefferson (one of my faves), principal author of the Declaration of Independence, whose foresight and principles still resonate today. Note as many people as you wish; just be sure to say why.
- If there is one global problem you could solve, what would it be? If you have ideas on solutions, that’s great! Anyone can (and does) criticize; how to fix it is what’s important. And if you can’t come up with a solution, that’s OK, too. But talk about what the solution would look like. What would be the final result if you solved the problem?
- What’s the vision of your life? Look at all your preceding answers for clues. What are the common threads that give color to your life?
- What are you doing now that’s keeping you from putting that vision or purpose into action? List as many of these stumbling blocks as you can.
Take all that information and write down three possible life purposes. What are the commonalities in what you’ve listed? Even more important, what items are in contradiction? There are no right or wrong answers; this is your life and you get to choose how to live it. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.
How to lead a purposeful life each day
There are things you can do each day to lead a purposeful life. Here are some tips:
- Try something different. Take small risks to build up your tolerance for bigger things.
- Go after the impossible. You’re the only one who can decide what’s possible for you, and the only way you’ll discover that is to go for it.
- Be guided by your values, not your necessities. Needing things – a better job, more clients, a happier home life – is coming from a place of scarcity. And the more you focus on that, the more of it you’ll get. Instead, center your life around what you value most.
- Cut the crap. If you had to cut 80% from every area of your life, what would you keep?
- Control your time. All of us have the same amount of time in the day – the rich and successful as well as the poor and struggling. Spend your time on what brings you the most value, personally and professionally.
- Focus on milestones, not maintenance. You can mow the lawn every two weeks or you can plant a lush garden.
- Choose more experiences over more stuff. It’s generally not the stuff we have in our lives that make us feel fulfilled – it’s what we do.
- Curate your life. Choose carefully what – and who – you let in. Get rid of the downers, deadbeats and distractions.
- Don’t wait. There is never the perfect time. You will never be ready. Do it now.
- Have more fun. Life is short. Enjoy it while you can.
What tips do you have for leading a purposeful life? I’d love to hear your ideas.